Heartland recognized for innovations in payment card data security and data center modernization
PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the fifth year in a row, Heartland Payment Systems® (NYSE: HPY), one of the nation’s largest payments processors, has earned recognition as a top technology innovator by InformationWeek. The company’s Top 250 ranking on the InformationWeek 500 List was revealed at a gala awards ceremony on September 13 at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, CA.
“Earning a spot on the InformationWeek 500 List for the fifth consecutive year is an honor”
“Earning a spot on the InformationWeek 500 List for the fifth consecutive year is an honor,” said Bob Carr, Heartland’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Technological innovation is the lifeblood of our company. Our best-in-class payments processing technologies help merchants across America protect their businesses against cybercriminals, improve operational efficiencies, and, ultimately enhance their profitability.”
Heartland was recognized for its industry-leading E3™ end-to-end encryption technology that is designed to protect merchants — and their customers — with the highest level of payment card data security without charging extra fees or requiring a large equipment investment. E3 safeguards sensitive credit and debit card data from the moment of card swipe or key entry — through the Heartland network — rendering information useless to cybercriminals in the event of a compromise. With EMV/chip card technology and near field communication (NFC) capabilities, Heartland’s E3 is helping merchants prepare for Visa’s Technology Innovation Program that will go into effect on October 1, 2012.
E3 also provides merchants added financial protection with the E3 Warranty. Heartland will reimburse merchants for any compliance fines, fees, assessments or forensic audits in the unlikely event that an E3 device does not prevent the unauthorized decryption of cardholder data within the one-year warranty period.
“For 23 years, the InformationWeek 500 has chronicled and honored the most innovative users of business technology,” said InformationWeek Editor-In-Chief Rob Preston. “In this day and age, however, being innovative isn’t enough. Companies and their IT organizations need to innovate faster than ever before to stay a step or two ahead of their customers, partners, and competitors. This year’s ranking placed special emphasis on those high-octane business technology innovators.”
Heartland was also honored for its data center modernization and consolidation. The first large payments processor to move its core payments processing platforms to a cloud model, Heartland is leveraging a private, hybrid cloud datacenter from a cloud service provider to consolidate its nine data centers into three, streamlining both operations and costs for the company. This initiative has significantly reduced operating expenses for one of Heartland’s lines of business and increased the availability of critical services, allowing Heartland to better serve its merchant customers.
InformationWeek identifies and honors the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual 500 listing and also tracks the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of America’s best-known companies. InformationWeek 500 rankings are unique among corporate rankings as it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather than simply identifying the biggest IT spenders.
Additional details on the InformationWeek 500 can be found online at www.informationweek.com/iw500/.
About Heartland Payment Systems
Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE: HPY), the fifth largest payments processor in the United States, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, gift marketing and loyalty programs, payroll, check management and related business solutions to more than 250,000 business locations nationwide. A FORTUNE 1000 company, Heartland is the founding supporter of The Merchant Bill of Rights, a public advocacy initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing practices. The company is also a leader in the development of end-to-end encryption technology designed to protect cardholder data, rendering it useless to cybercriminals. For more information, please visit HeartlandPaymentSystems.com, MerchantBillOfRights.org, CostOfABurger.com and E3secure.com.
